Cat Deeley tipped to co-host Saturday Night Takeaway with ‘devastated’ Dec
CAT DEELEY is being tipped to join her old SM:TV co-host Declan Donnelly on Saturday Night Takeaway — as reports emerged that the Geordie presenter is struggling with the idea of going it alone for what could be at least a year.
Usually cheeky chappy Dec is said to be ‘devastated’ by his pal Ant McPartlin being charged with a drink-driving incident at the weekend, but yesterday released a statement saying he would continue presenting without him.
A source told The Sun: ‘Dec is in a terrible state of mind. He’s totally devastated by what has happened and has had to make difficult decisions in a quick space of time.’
‘He feels strongly that a lot was riding on it for a lot of people, but it is incredibly tough for him right now.’
The insider added that Ant ‘is now officially off work for the year at least’, leaving the field open for Deeley — or somebody else — to join Dec in his hosting duties.
While ITV seemed to suggest yesterday that Dec would be going solo when the show returns on March 31, it has been reported that Cat could help him out on the Florida finale show the week after as she lives just five hours away.
Deeley started out with the lads in the late 1990s, co-hosting kids’ TV show SM:TV and chart show CD:UK. Since 2006 has been the Emmy Award-winning host of So You Think You Can Dance in the US.
Bookies Betfair have her at 10/1 to join Dec on the night, but there are other contenders.
Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt, who already appears on Takeaway, is current favourite at 1/5, with her co-host Stephen Mulhern at 6/1.
Other possible candidates are Love Island host Caroline Flack at 14/1, Mark Wright at 20/1 and Keith Lemon at 25/1.
Meanwhile, Ant is due to appear in court next month, according to a police statement.
‘Anthony McPartlin, 42 (18.11.75) of Chiswick has been charged by postal requisition on Wednesday, March 21, with drink driving,’ the Metropolitan Police statement read.
‘He will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on April 4.’
Yesterday, Dec took the difficult decision to go it alone, explaining on his Twitter page that he felt he ‘owed’ it to fans.
‘Whilst I never thought I’d be in this position, after much discussion and careful consideration we’ve decided that the remaining two shows of this series of Saturday Night Takeaway will go ahead,’ he wrote.
‘We made a promise to take hundreds of deserving winners to Florida to watch the series finale, and we will honour that.
‘Everyone at ITV and the Takeaway team feels we owe it to the audience to complete the series.’
Author: Anna Thomson
